October 31, 2025 – Noellie’s journey as a professional focused on early childhood development (ECD) is a powerful reminder that a fellowship is often just the beginning. After completing the ECDAN Knowledge Fellows program in 2024, Noellie didn’t just add a line to her CV—she found her voice, deepened her expertise, and launched into action. From growing up in Accra, Ghana, to pursuing a doctorate in public policy in the US, where she lives now, she has been driven by her interest in ensuring high-quality early learning for every child, especially in underserved communities.
Now, as she continues her doctoral studies and advocates for financing the early years, Noellie reflects on the lessons she learned from her fellowship with ECDAN and how it spurred her growth as a leader.
Finding Her Voice in the Fellowship
The Knowledge Fellows program provided a platform, but it also posed a unique challenge for Noellie: learning to fully own her work and ideas.
The most challenging part was learning to fully own my work and ideas while advocating for myself. As a youth leader, I have to recognize that opinions and suggestions are valuable, but they remain just that. I don’t always have to apply them.
This experience pushed her toward greater self-governance and confidence, transforming her approach to work. She was interested in supporting adolescent parents, having seen the need through her work with a local organization in Ghana. For her fellowship project, she completed a review of eight evidence-based parenting programs implemented in Africa to assess their responsiveness to the unique needs of adolescent parents.
Noellie gained a critical, sobering insight: adolescent parents often face a dual burden—growing up while raising a child. She observed that many interventions focus heavily on the child while overlooking the essential psychosocial, educational, and economic needs of the adolescent caregiver. “My project deepened my conviction that interventions in Africa and the Global South really must be context-specific, holistic, and inclusive of adolescents’ voices,” she said.
The Two-Way Street of Mentorship
In the months after completing her fellowship, ECDAN invited alumni to serve as peer mentors. Noellie eagerly stepped up and was paired with Rosa, a 2025 fellow. She was interested in helping others learn from her experience but soon found that she was benefiting from the role as well.
I was pleasantly surprised by how mutually beneficial it was, she shared. Our mentoring relationship was not just about me giving—it was an opportunity for me to also learn, reflect, and grow. It was also very fulfilling. I would do it again.
Working with Rosa, whose project touched on how young children are impacted by climate migration, reminded Noellie of the power of collaboration and co-creation, inspiring her to prioritize participatory approaches in her own research.
Why Financing for ECD is the Next Frontier
Most recently, Noellie has used her voice and collaborated with others in direct response to ECDAN’s call to action on financing the early years. “Investments in ECD are not just social interventions; they are economic investments with measurable returns in global economies,” she argued.
As she advances in her doctoral studies, she increasingly recognizes how policy and financing are deeply interconnected—neither can function effectively without the other. This realization inspired her to convene a roundtable of young advocates from Africa and Asia to discuss how to bridge the financing gap.
A standout moment from the roundtable came from her fellow Knowledge Fellow alumnus, Mubarik, who shared his work to advocate to and engage with members of Parliament in Ghana. “His story had us completely hooked. He showed us that advocacy could be bold, practical, and effective. His passion and courage stirred us to think about the actions we could take in our own contexts,” she recalled.
Noellie believes youth advocates bring three essential elements to the table: lived experience, creativity, and a future-focused lens.
We represent the next generation of leaders and parents, and our presence ensures that policies are not only evidence-based but also grounded in intergenerational realities.
Increasing Her Impact
Following the roundtable, Noellie and her peers are continuing to collaborate on a youth-centered policy brief related to financing for the early years. “I hope it will highlight concrete recommendations that policymakers cannot ignore—practical, actionable steps that reflect youths’ voices and lived realities, not just academic theory,” she said.
She views the policy and research skills she is gaining in her doctoral program as a bridge to greater impact. By developing the ability to generate evidence-based and data-driven solutions, Noellie believes she will become a stronger advocate and contribute meaningfully to increasing support for young children and family support systems in the African region.
Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders
What keeps this determined young leader motivated?
I’m motivated by the children and families I’ve encountered who remind me that potential is everywhere, but opportunity is not, Noellie concluded. Bridging that gap keeps me going.
Her final piece of advice for those considering the Knowledge Fellows program is simple but profound: Don’t wait until you feel ‘perfectly ready. The fellowship is where you’ll discover your strengths, build confidence, refine your skills, and grow into your voice.
And the most important lesson she’ll carry forward? Noellie emphasized that true leadership is collaborative, and that lasting impact comes from working collectively rather than individually.
Follow Noellie’s next steps as she continues to develop her advocacy and leadership, driving a critical conversation on financing the future for young children.
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This is the sixth entry in the “From Learning to Leading” blog series profiling former Knowledge Fellows to discover where their journey has taken them.